Livid family sue the U.S. government after teen cancer survivor is battered by airport security guards

Teenager Hannah Cohen was heading home after her final round of radiation treatment when she was stopped by airport security

by brittany vonow

4th July 2016, 10:21 am

Updated: 4th July 2016, 10:50 am

A DISABLED teen who was flying home after her final brain cancer treatment was allegedly left bloodied and bruised by airport security staff with her family now launching a lawsuit in the US.

Hannah Cohen was just 18-years-old when she went through security at the Memphis International Airport, setting off the metal detector at the security checkpoint.

Shirley Cohen

Teenage cancer survivor Hannah Cohen was left bloodied and confused after being detained by airport security

It was then that Transport Security Administration (TSA) agents took the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis patient, who is partially deaf, blind in one eye and paralysed, to a “sterile area” to search her.

But the young woman was left bloodied and bruised with her mother Shirley Cohen saying: “They wanted to do further scanning. She was reluctant — she didn’t understand what they were about to do.

“She’s trying to get away from them but in the next instant, one of them had her down on the ground and hit her head on the floor. There was blood everywhere.”

The young woman was then handcuffed and left crying after her treatment.

Shirley Cohen

Hannah Cohen's family are now suing the TSA for causing emotional and physical injuries on the teenager

In the lawsuit, Ms Cohen alleges that she tried to tell security staff several times about her daughter’s brain tumour and disabilities but the authorities refused to listen to her.

The lawsuit also alleges that Hannah Cohen, who was not armed and did not have any contraband items, suffered “physical and emotional injury” while her mother suffered emotional injuries after being forced to watch her daughter’s treatment.

The incident, on June 30, 2015, left the family stranded with their teenage daughter taken to hospital and spending 24 hours in Shelby County jail while their bags flew home to Chattanooga.

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After a day in jail, Hannah was released, running into her mother’s arms, saying “I’m sorry, Mama", the Guardian reported.

The young woman appeared before a local judge two days after the incident in 2015 but the charges were thrown out with the family refunded $250 in costs.

Ms Cohen said "the judge's eyes got big and round" when Hannah revealed the extent of her injuries suffered during the airport scuffle.

The family is now suing the TSA, the Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority and the Memphis International Airport Police Department for USD$100,000 after treatment of their teenage daughter, who is now 19.

Alamy

Mother Shirley Cohen said she tried to tell staff at the Memphis International Airport (above) that her daughter had been left with significant disabilities after her cancer treatment

The family has accused the TSA of not providing reasonable accommodation for the screening of the young woman.

The lawsuit also states the TSA and Memphis Airport police caused “intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress” to the young woman, since causing further medical treatment, personal and emotional injury as well as pain, suffering and embarrassment.

TSA spokesman Mark Howell and Jerry Brandon, chief of public safety of the Memphis International Airport Police Department, said they could not comment on pending litigation.

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority president and CEO Scott Brockman told The Commercial Appeal: “Anybody can file anything, and we don’t comment on active litigation.

“Clearly there are additional facts in this matter, and we won’t comment until we address the litigation.”